• A blood donation drive will be held at Dar tal-Irtiri Padova near St Anthony church, Għajnsielem, today between 8.30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
• A meeting for diocesan eucharistic entities will be held at Manresa House, Victoria, today at 4 p.m. Childminders will be in attendance.
• A special Mass for youngsters, led by Fr Joseph Magro, OFM, will be held at St Anthony church, Għajnsielem, today at 11 a.m. The Ignite Band will take part. A sketch on the Gospel and a liturgical dance will take place.
• The Padre Pio Prayer Groups of Gozo will gather at Our Lady of Graces Sanctuary in Victoria to celebrate their founder‘s liturgical feast on Thursday at 6.30 p.m. The groups will be commemorating the 100th anniversary of Padre Pio’s first solemn High Mass celebrated at Benevento Cathedral on August 10, 1910. Rosary will be followed by a concelebrated Mass led by Mgr George Bezzina assisted by Fr Guardian Carm Dimech, OFM Cap, and other spiritual directors and the Friars serving at the Sanctuary. All devotees are invited to attend.
• Xagħra council is organising a ‘Figs Festival’ between Friday and Sunday. The council forms part of ‘The Ficusnet’, a network of European cities and villages producing figs.
The festival will include an exhibition at the Victory Philharmonic Society’s premises on Friday, a conference at the Dun Alwiġ CamilleriHall at the band club on Saturday and a ‘Feast of Figs’ at Victory Square on Sunday between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. A number of people from Italy, France and Greece will attend the festival.
• The diocesan Eucharistic Movement will hold a prayer evening at St Francis church, Victoria, on Saturday at 8.30 p.m., followed by Mass at midnight.
• Wirt Għawdex will be holding a lecture and guided walk at Ta’ Ċenċ on Saturday. Joe Sultana of Birdlife Gozo will talk about Ta’ Ċenċ flora and fauna at Palazzo Palina, Ta’ Ċenċ at 3.30 p.m., followed by a guided walk in the area. Seating is limited; booking through e-mail info@wirtghawdex.org or call 7956 1947.
• An exhibition of cross-stitch pictures by Philip Martin is on at the exhibition hall, St Francis Square, Victoria. Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.
• A car boot sale by the Friends of the Sick and Elderly will be held at the football ground, next to Victoria main car park, next Sunday between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. The charge per car is €10, payable on the day. Book by e-mail admin@fsegozo.com or call 2155 3336.
cspiteri@timesofmalta.com